Separating or sorting apparatus



C. J. LANE.

SEPARATING 0R SORTING APPAHIRTLLS,

APPLICATION FILED ocT. 1. v1921.

AQQQZ., Patented July 1i, 1922,

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Il IMM C. J. LANE.

SEPARATING 0R SORTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-1| 192i.

Patented July 1H, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

LAQQEG?,

CHARLES JOSHUA LANE, 0F LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR 0F LONDON, ENG-LAND.

SEPARATING 0R SORTING APPARATUS.

Application filed October 1, 1921.

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES JOSHUA LANE, a subject of the King oi England, residing at Tottenham, London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Separating or Sorting Apparatus, of which the following is a specication.

This invention is for improvements in or relating to separating, sorting, or sitting apparatus and the like, and has iorits object to provide an improved construction ot the same.

The apparatus hereinatterdescribed 1s particularly adapted for use 1n connection with a method of coating metallic articles with a protective covering. like galvanizing, the process consisting in tumbling the articles in contact with a granular or oomininuted material which forms the protective coating. rlhe articles and the fine material are treated in a rotatable drum, and the apparatus hereinafter described is used to separate the articles from the excess material and to return the fine material to a hopper or storage receptacle wheretrom it can be drawn as required. It will be understood, however, that the apparatus hereinafter-described may be put to other uses than the aforesaid, being used for sorting or sifting any mixture of materials which have to be so treated.

According to this invention there is provided in sifting or sorting apparatus the combination of a sta-nd provided with bearings to receive a drum containing the material to be sitted, said bearings supporting the drunr so that its lower surface has a slight downward inclination from the hori- Zontal. an open-ended rotatable sieve which has its axis below and parallel with the drum axis and which is of conical shape so that its lower surface has a slight downward inclination from the horizontal in the opposite direction to that of the drum aforesaid, and means for collecting the material separated by said sieve. The means for collecting the separated materials may, for example, comprise a guide or chute to direct material from the drum to the sieve, and a separate guide receiving material from the inside of the sieve and delivering it to any required point. Such means further comprise a guide to collect the material which Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented July 11, 1922. Serial No. 504,812.

passes through the sieve and to for example, by means of a to any convenient outlet.

The reason for arranging the bearings of the drum in the. manner above-described, is that by slow rotation of the drum, an automatic delivery of the contents therefrom can be ensured by means ot the downward slope of the bottom of the drum.

Other features of the invention relate to certain details of construction as hereinafter-described and illustrated.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a particular embodiment of this invention- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the sieve an-d its associated parts,

Figure 2 is an end elevation looking from the left-hand side of Figure l,

Figure 3 shows an end view of the apparatus in Figure 1 (looking from the righthand side), in combination with a conveyor and hopper for the storage ofthe powder,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a detail of Figure 1, and

Figure 5 shows the construction to a larger scale of a detail of Figure 3.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.

Referring iirst to Figures 1 and 2, the apparatus comp-rises a stand 10 built up or" suitable material such as angle-iron, and this stand is provided at the top with bearings to receive a rotatable drum, indicated in chain lines at 11, which contains the material to be sorted or sifted.

Conveniently this drum comprises a cylindical portionwith end plates 12 closing that portion, and a shaft 13 secured to said end-plate. In order to provide for the removal of the material from the interior of the drum 11, the end-plate is removed at one end, (the right-hand end in Figure l), and that end of the drum is supported upon rollers 14. 'The other end of the drum is supported in a bearing indicated generally by the reference character 15 in Figure 1, and the detailed construction of this bearing is illustrated in Figure lt. It comprises a semi-cylindrical part 16, which is provided along one side with an upstanding wall 17. At one end of the part 16 there is provided a complete cylindrical bearing 18,

deliver it, screw conveyor TO CYR-IL FRANK ELWELL,

these partsbeing preferably all formed inktegrally with one'another. This bearing is 11 is brought into position over the bearing and is guided' down into the bearing by the wall 17. A bolt 19 or other convenient con` struction of peg is inserted through the wall 17 or any other convenient part of the bearto engage a suitable circumferential recess in the shaft 13 for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

Means are provided for imparting a slow rotation to the drum 11, such means conveniently comprising fast and loose beltT pulleys 52th 21 mounted on a shaft 22 which carries a worm and drives a worm-wheel situated in the casing 2f. This worm-wheel is mounted on a suitable shaft which is coaxial with the bearing 15 and lies within the cylindrical part 18 thereof. This shaft is provided with a diametral slot at the end whichflies in the bearing 187 and a dog situated within this slot is adapted to be projected therefrom by means of a suitable push-rod 24, see Figure 1, extending out from the other end of the shaft. A handwheel 25 which is rotatable on the shaft 24 but is restrained from axial movement thereon7 provides a convenient means for moving the dog` aforesaid whilst the shaft is in rotation7 this movement of the dog putting it either into engagement with a diametral slot on the end of the shaft 13 to effect a driving engagement therewith or withdrawing it to release the shaft 13.

The bearings k14, 15 are so disposed that the drum 11 when mounted in them has a slight downward inclination towards the right-handV end in Figure 1, and the end plate at this lower end is removed after the drum has been inserted in place. A housing 26 4having a removable eoverQ' encloses this end of the drum, and also provides v a support for a beam 28 which is provided to support the end-plate after it has been de-` tached from the drum ready for lifting it away. The slow rotation aforesaid which is imparted to the drum 11, together with its downward inclination causes any material in it to be delivered slowly' from the open end into the housing 26 and this material passes downwards through a chute 29.

A rotatable sieve is mounted in the frame 10 in a convenient position below the drum 11. This sieve is supported at one end in a bearing 30 and at the other end onrollers 31a and these are -so disposed that the axis of the sieve is parallel with the axis of the drum 11 aforesaid, that is to say it vhas a slight downward inclination from the horizontal towards the right in Figure 1. The

reason for making the two axes parallel is to enable a chain drive to be used for the various parts as hereinafter-described.

The sieve is constructed of any suitable frame-work covered by netting or gauze 32 of a mesh appropriate to the materials which are to be separated. Preferably the sieve is of octagonal or other angular cross-section, and it is tapered or coned with the small end towards the right, this end encircling the open end of the delivery chuteQQ aforesaid so that material passing therethrough is der livered intothe sieve. The angle of conioity of the sieve is so selected that its lower edge 33 is sloped downwards in the opposite direction to the slope of the drum 11, that is to say downwards towards Athe left in Figure 1, and the material in the'sieve which does not pass through the gauze 32 is thereby caused to travel through t-he sieve from right to left in Figure 1. The right-hand end of the sieve is open and projects into a delivery chute 34, the upper part of the endA of this chute being cut away at 35 to receive the end of the sieve. A curtain or flap 36 of canvas or any other suitable material is provided in the chute 34 to prevent the escape of dust and the like therethrough, but this Hap does not interfere with the pas sage of the heavier articles which are retained by the sieve in its sifting,operation7 and these heavier or larger parts are delivered through the-chute 34 as hereinafterdescribed.

A grating 37 is provided under the smaller open end of the sieve asia trap to receive any material which passing from the chute 29 into the open end ofthe sieve is discharged from that end for any reason. This grating edects a partial separation or sifting-of the material by allowing the finer portions to fall therethrough, and the material retained on the grating` is removedl periodically through a door 38 on the end of the frame 10.

Below the sieve aforesaid there is mounted a screw conveyor indicated generally by the reference 39. Thisl conveyor is mounted with its axis parallel to the axis of the sieve and the drinn 11 and is arranged in a trough 40. All the material passing through the sieve is directed downwards into this trough and is theretransported by the conveyor to an outlet 41 at the end thereof, or at any other convenient place.

As above-stated the axes of VJthe drum 11, sieve and conveyor are all parallel with one another and the necessaryvdrive is imparted to each of them by a chain 42. This chain receives its drive from a sprocket wheel 43 mounted on the shaft of the worm-wheel aforesaid in thel casing 23 and it engages similar sprocketwheels 44, 45 mountedvon the shaft of the conveyor and of the sieve respectively. '1t also passes over a jockeypulley 46`which is provided Vwith any connecesa? venient means of adjust-ment tor taking up any slack in the chain. This jockey-pulley is preferably arranged in the position shown in Figure 2 in order to provide a suitably long arc of contact ot the chain e2 with the Wheel Which drives the sieve. A suitable guard 47 is provided to cover the exposed gearing ot the machine.

The axes ot the various rotating parts hereinbetore mentioned are all parallel with one another and sloped downwards on the horizontal, and in order to prevent endivise movement ot these parts resultingl from this sloping, any suitable means may be provided. ln the case ot the drum ll this restraint is eitected by the peg` 19 engaging a groove in the shaft lf3. ln the case ot the sieve and the conveyor collars 41S may be provided to engage the ends ot' the bearings to eitect the necessary restraint.

The trarne l0 is preferably provided with a sheet metal cover so that the Whole ot the apparatus is entirely enclosed, and in order to provide for convenient access to the conveyor 39, or tor its Withdrawal when required, the portion t9 ot the end ot this covering, as shown in Figure 3, is made readily detachable. y

ln the preterred arrangement the appa ratus illustrated in Figures l and 2 is used, as shown in. Figure B, in combination With a hopper or storage bin to receive the material which passes through the sieve. @n the outlet 41 from the conveyor there is provided a chute 50 to direct the material issuing therefrom into a conveying device 51, which may take any desired form, but is illustrated as an elevator. This conveying device delivers the material to a hopper 52 wherein the material is stored until required.

Another Jfeature ot this invention. relates to the construction and arrangement ot the discharge outlet from this hopper 52, the improvement consisting in making this outlet adjustable so that material can be delivered at ditferent points.

This construction is illustrated in Figure 3 and certain details are also illustrated on a larger scale in Figure 5. The hopper 52 terminates at its lower end in a cylindrical tube-like member 53. Surrounding this tube and coaxial with it there is an internally screw-threaded socket 54 which is secured on the lovver end ot the hopper 52 by Welding as at 55 or in any other convenient manner. The internal diameter ot the socket 54 is sufficiently larger than the eX- ternal diameter of the tube 58 to permit the entry into it ot a pipe-nipple 56 which is screvved in the usual Way at the ends 57, 58. The portion 57 screws into the socket 54 and encircles the tube 53, and any desired lengths ot the threads are engaged, but the nipple is not screwed home, being lett free to rotate through any desired angle not more than one complete revolution. The part 58 ot the nipple is screwed into the stem ot an inverted uim-piece t9. and a tube of any desired length is screwed into one ot' the arms ot this T-piece. he other ot the T-piece is closed by a plug 6l. The tube @il thus provides a sivivellin` oulet-pipe trom the hopper which is constructed entirely ot the standard pipe-connections 5e, 56, 59, and any material delivered trom the hopl r can pass into the tube 60 Without any possibility ot 'fouling the rubbing surfaces ot the swivel joint, these rubbing surfaces being;` constituted by the screw-threads on the parts 541- and lu the construction shown, the tubes 60 is arranged horizontally, although it will be appreciated that it may be inclined dotvnivards, it so desired, and when it is used horizontally the outlet from the tube is constituted by the downwardlydirected stein 6l et a lf-piece 62 secured on the end ot the tube. Preferably also a screw-conveyor is mounted in the tube 60 to convey the material from the inlet end beloiv the tube on the hopper to the outlet end. This conveyor is preferably operated through a Worm-gear by an electric motor mounted on a suitable bracket secured to that end of the T-piece 59 *which is closed by the plug 61. lt Will be seen that the Weight oit the bracket, motor and ,e'earing. balances Wholly or in part the Weight of the tube 60 and its contents. lreterably a handle 64 is provided on the delivery end ct the tube 60 to enable it to be rotated. and this handle may be provided with au adjustable grip 65 which. controls the switch t'or the motor 63 so that when the operator grips the handle 64 to bring the tube 60 into the desired position, he can simultaneously start up the motor 63 and thereby set the scretv-threaded conveyor in motion. so that the material is ready to be delivered 'trom the outlet 6l as soon as it has been brought to the desired position.

As abovcstated. this apparatus is particularly adapted tor use in a process ot covering; articles with a protective coating;r applied iu the torni of a powder. the process being` carried out in the drum 1l. which is then mounted in the stand l() in the manner hereinatter described to enable the powder to be separated from the articles. The coated articles are delivered through the chute Sil from the interior of the sieve and the other material is finally delivered into the. hopper 52 ready to be distributed for use again. but it yvill be appreciated that the apparatus may also be used for sifting or sorting; any other desired materials.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. ln sitting apparatus, the combination of a stand, a drinn open at one end rotatably and removably mounted in said sta-nd with its lower surface inclined downwardly from the horizontal, and its open end lower than its closed end, a housing surrounding the open end of said drum, a chute leading downwards from said housing, an open-ended conical sieve rotatably mounted in said stand with its axis below and parallel with the axis of said drum, the angle at the apex of the cone of said sieve being greater than twice the angle of inclination of the drum axis downwards from the horizontal, said sieve being arranged with its smaller open end enclosing the lower end of said chute, a delivery chute disposed below the open larger end of said sieve, and a. tray extending-lengthwise of said sieve below it to receive material passing' through it.

2. In sifting apparatus, the combination of a stand, a bearing formed with a semicylindrical lower portion, a plain vertical extension at `one side or said lower portion, a drum closed at one end, a trunnion centrally secured on said closed end engaging said bearing, bearing rollers on the frame supporting the other open end of said drum, sa-id bea-rings being so disposed that the drum slopes downwardly Jfrom the horizontal towards its open end, a housing surrounding the open-end of said drum, a chute leading downwards from said housing, an .open ended conical sieve rotatably mounted in said standard with its smaller end surrounding the lower end'of said chute, means for collecting material passing through the conical wall of the sieve, and means for collecting material discharged from the other open end of the sieve.

In sifting apparatus, the combination or' a stand, an open-ended drum rotatably mounted in said stand, andV sloped downwardly from the horizontal with its open end lower than its closed end, a conical sieve open at both ends, mounted in said stand below said drum with its axis parallel with that of said drum, a housing surrounding the open end of said drum, a chute extending downwards from said housing and projecting int-o the smaller end of said conical sieve, a trough on said stand extending below said sieve to receive material there- `from, a feed screw mounted` adjacent said trough, an outlet from said troughga conveyor receiving material from said outlet, a hopper receiving material from saidconveyor, a smooth outlet tube at the lower end of saidhopper, an internally-screw-threaded socket secured on said hopper surrounding said outlet tube, an externally-screw-threaded nipple also encircling said outlet and screwed into said socket, engaging it by a portion of its screw-threaded length, a tubular member secured on said nipple to turn with it in Vsaid socket, .anda screw conveyor mounted in said tubular member.

CHARLES JOSHUA LANE. 

